Gypsum board is commonly used to construct household walls. Due to its high porosity, it can absorb moisture like a sponge, which amounts to serious mold risk. If water penetrates your gypsum board after a flood, during periods of high humidity or as a result of weak roof insulation, dark-colored patches may appear along the surface of one or more walls. This is a telltale sign of mold growth.
Instructions
1. Determine the cause of your mold problem. If you recognize a pre-existing problem, like leaky roof shingles, remedy the source of the problem first, in order to isolate the moisture contributing to the mold growth. If you just have really high humidity inside your home, purchase a dehumidifier and turn it on to evaporate the water vapor.
2. Determine whether or not you can reasonably clean up the problem yourself. The CDC defines a "serious" mold problem as occurring when mold covers more than 10 square feet. If you have mold covering mold than 10 square feet of gypsum board, call a mold expert at once. Otherwise, proceed to the next step.
3. Dry your gypsum board slowly. Gypsum is a form of plaster, and plaster can easily crack if you dry it too quickly. Turn on your heat and let it dry the wall over a period of several days. Do not apply heat directly to the wall board. If you have no central heat, use a portable heater, but keep it several feet away from the wall.
4. Remove any wallpaper from the gypsum board. Mold eats through wallpaper very rapidly, so if mold has penetrated your wall, you will not be able to salvage the paper except in instances of very light mildew. If that is the case, sponge the wallpaper with mild detergent and dry the wall, but chances are, you have a more serious problem that requires heavier solutions.
5. Scrub your wall with diluted bleach. Use a maximum of 1 cup of bleach soaked in a full gallon of water. Wear rubber gloves and scrub the gypsum board surface wherever mildew appears. To rinse the wall, use a different sponge, but dampen it with just water. Finally, dry your wall again. If mold returns, contact a mold remediator. The larger colony may be hiding within or behind the wall, in which case you will need to replace the gypsum board entirely.
Tags: gypsum board, , high humidity, mold growth, mold problem